Tragic accident claimed the life of 'bubbly' Elena on A27

Elena Hedges, 20, was on her way back to her home in Canal Road, Yapton, about 2.25pm on November 3 last year after buying some brake pads for her car.

Miss Hedges, who was training to be a hospitalities manager at The Stables in Fontwell, had been driving east in her white VW Polo and was approaching the Walberton junction to turn right into Yapton Lane.

An inquest in Chichester heard Miss Hedges did not see a caddy van driving west along the A27 and pulled out across its path.

The van driver, Jason Rockey, was driving towards Chichester.

Reading from his statement, he said: "It's a dangerous junction. I've often wondered why it has been allowed for traffic to go across two lanes '“ a roundabout would be much safer.

"I was about 15ft from the exit point of the slip road when I saw a vehicle flash in front of me from the central reservation '“ there was no time to react."

Mr Rockey ploughed into Miss Hedges' car, which crashed into a bollard, road signs and a lamppost.

Both cars ended up on the grass verge.

A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Hedges, who was a flying cadet and loved going to comedy clubs and dancing, died at the scene from multiple injuries.

Mr Rockey, a sales distributor from Hedge End, said he now has trouble sleeping and suffers from flashbacks.

He said: "I was aware a car was in front but was not expecting it to shoot out across my path."

At the inquest, he said: "I don't know what to say '“ I didn't have time to react."

Witness David Hawkes, who was driving to Portsmouth, had been in the lefthand lane behind a lorry.

He moved to overtake and saw the caddy van ahead, then saw the Polo move out and said he 'knew there was going to be a crash'.

"The van driver was very upset '“ he was very concerned for the driver of the car," he said.

"The lorry driver and I were both of the opinion the van driver had no chance to do anything.

"I can only think the driver of the car did not see the van."

Mr Hawkes' wife Lynne, who had been in the passenger seat, said: "There are a lot of these junctions along that road.

"I'm always very frightened of them.

"I said to him 'mind, there is a white car at that junction'. Then David said 'oh my God, it's crossing the road'. I didn't see the impact because we had moved out."

Addressing Miss Hedges' parents, West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield said: "Whatever the reason for Elena not seeing the van '“ we may not ever know '“ it is clear the evidence supports the fact she was probably focusing on the lorry and not the white van.

"This was a tragic accident and one that has obviously caused a great deal of distress to everyone involved.

"Elena was a bubbly, lively girl and had the rest of her life to look forward to and I don't think any of us can fully appreciate how you feel as regards your loss."

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

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